The idea of symbolism is very important in Islamic tradition. Artifacts, images, animals, plants, art , Quranic verses and calligraphy always have multiple meanings. This notion is also particularly very important in Islamic architecture. In “The Topkapi Scorll – Geometry and ornament in Islamic Architecture,” Gulru Necipohlu discusses how “the innate spirituality […]
The written word is highly esteemed in Arabic and Islamic culture, and as explained in Schimmel’s book, “Calligraphy and Islamic Culture,” Arabic calligraphers often regard their profession as highly sacred. Islam has always stressed the importance of reading and writing for the preservation of everything. In fact, Islam’s first verse in the Quran […]
I have heard more sounds in AI54: “For the Love of God and His Prophet: Religion, Literature, and the Arts in Muslim Cultures,” than I have in any other class at Harvard. It was very interesting listening to the adhan, the Islamic call of prayer, in different countries. Growing up in Egypt, I had […]